The role of catalases in the prevention/promotion of oxidative stress

Catalases, heme enzymes which catalyze decomposition of hydrogen peroxide to water and molecular oxygen, are important members of the antioxidant defense system of cells of almost all aerobic organisms. However, recent studies suggest that catalase may be involved in various other processes in the cell. The paper provides a review of reactions of catalases with their main substrate, hydrogen peroxide, and with oxidizing species such as hydroxyl radical, superoxide, nitric oxide, peroxynitrite, hypochlorous acid, and singlet oxygen. A number of these individuals are formed under oxidative eustress (good stress) as well as distress (bad stress), while others only under conditions of oxidative distress. Potential biological significance of the reactions of mammalian as well as bacterial catalases with oxidizing species is discussed. The majority of these reactions inhibit catalase. Authors emphasize that catalase inhibition, which may lead to significant increase of the local concentration of hydrogen peroxide, may be detrimental to the neighboring tissues, but in some pathological states (e.g. the defense directed against pathogenic bacteria rich in catalase, or induction of apoptosis of cancer cells which possess membrane-associated catalase) it may be beneficial for the host organism.